Six plus Five equals Eleven plus Two... Thirteen our lucky number! Jim and Ann had Six while going through Medical School and think Greys Anatomy Plus Eleven (Residency and adopting 5 siblings from Foster Care)
Surviving on a Shoestring... Grateful for Today and Our Many Blessings.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Refrigerator Died and Ian Scored a Bargain

Friday I got a call from Ian that the refrigerator at our house in Michigan refrigerator died.All I could come up with was $500 and he took on the challenge of hunting for another. I went on line and we were not going to get much for the money, but Menards had a 18.2 cu.ft. Frigidaire for $424 on sale. It was the bottom of the line, but its price fit my budget. But not much else.

Ian's quest for the day finding a refrigerator with Mom by cellphone. After hitting Best Buy, Menards, Home Depot he was struggling to find one in stock. Heading over to Lowe's and found a 18.2 cu. ft. Frigidaire with automatic ice maker on clearance originally $700 for a mere $408.00. They were closing out their older models.

He still wanted to head over to ABC Warehouse which offers free shipping and haul away on their appliances on Sunday as it had already closed. As he was walking away the Salesman started talking to him again, Ian asked if they had free delivery but it was $69.99. Ian let him know that that was the deal breaker and the salesman went to see if he could do better.

Ian was shocked to find out that Lowes lowered the price to $350 and he had to pay delivery. When finalizing the order he was given a REBATE for the cost of the Delivery to mail in to receive a $69.99 Lowes Gift Card. He got in the end will get FREE delivery, FREE Haul away and got a $650 refrigerator for $350. Saving $350 on the cost of the frig, $69.99 delivery and $45 for haul away for a Total Savings of $464.99.

My son has learned well. Ian's deal was better than I could have done!!!!

Raising Awareness

Our Bakers Dozen

Frugal by Neccessity

In 1989 our youngest daughter Becca was born with a rare genetic disorder, (Noonan Syndrome) and while she struggled to survive, our family tumbled into poverty. With Six children we had to live below the poverty line to qualify for help to cover her million dollars in medical bills.

When my husband lost his job due to Becca's insurance issues, he returned to school. It is never too late to change careers. Two years of undergraduate coursework and four years of medical school were supported by delivering thousands newspapers (coupons galore) and thrifty living...

In the spirit of giving back we went on to adopt five siblings separated in foster care. Leaving our home of twenty years, two families who both knew adversity moved onto the Hope of a new life 600 miles away to begin the Journey through Residency and becoming a New Family. Along the way we soon discovered that our newest children would be diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and challenges from their histories of abuse and neglect. My strength would be tested, my bargain hunting skills honed to feed our family of thirteen on residency pay and prayer.

OurTiny Titan showed us the gift of today and to never, ever give up. Our family CHOSE to not become a statistic of families facing catastrophic illness. We learned to live frugally, stretch a dollar, and find happiness with being together. Instead of feeling hopeless, we found strength in turning the negatives into the positives, by playing the game of living on less.

My children are now all nearly grown, our family no longer financially struggles, but our pennypinching and frugal ways are not forgotten. My husband is now a surgeon, my children make me proud as they have now embraced the lessons they have learned along our journey.

With my book now published, the kids nearly grown, I have a new opportunity... to share our survival strategies, creativity and my latest deals.